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Tan, owner of Premier League club Cardiff City, appeared to boo his own team following its 2-2 draw with Sunderland.

Cardiff led for most of the game, and Tan often was seen cheering, smiling and putting two thumbs up. But the red-shirted Bluebirds conceded two late goals — the first in the 83rd and the second coming five minutes into added time — to turn what should have been an exhilarating victory into a disappointing draw. A chorus of boos rang out at Cardiff City Stadium after the final whistle, and Tan joined it.

However, Tan’s place in the hearts of Cardiff City fans makes it difficult to tell why anyone was booing and exactly who the target might have been. On Friday, the Malaysian billionaire fired Malky Mackay, Cardiff’s City’s popular former manager, after a long-running public dispute. Many fans protested the decision. Some displayed anti-Tan signs and banners during the game. Others chanted against him.

Conventional wisdom tells us that fans have a right to boo their team, as they pay good money to make it into the stadium. But how does that apply to the one who signs the checks and financed Cardiff City’s rise to the Premier League? Like most things, this appears to be subject to interpretation.